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141st
Pennsylvania Infantry
Online Books
141st
Pennsylvania Infantry Soldier Roster - History of Pennsylvania
Volunteers, 1861-5, Volume 4 by Samuel P Bates, 1869
View Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| One Hundred and Forty-first Infantry, — Col., Henry J.
Madill ; Lieut.- Cols., Guy H. Watkins, Casper W. Tyler, Joseph H.
Horton; Majs., Israel P. Spaulding, Casper W. Tyler, Joseph H. Horton,
Charles Mercur. This regiment was composed of recruits from the counties
of Bradford, Susquehanna and Wayne, and rendezvoused at Camp Curtin,
Harrisburg, where it was mustered into the U. S. service in the latter
part of Aug., 1862, for three years. It was barely organized, when it
was hurried to Washington, arriving on Aug. 30 during the progress of
the second battle of Bull Run. It was a raw, inexperienced regiment and
the privations and exposure of the first few weeks told heavily on the
health of the men, 300 being in hospital at one time and 500 being
reported unfit for duty. It was assigned to the 1st brigade (Gen.
Robinson), Birney's division, 3d corps. It remained at Washington,
engaged in perfecting itself in drill and discipline, until the close of
the Maryland campaign, and was then posted at Poolesville for a time,
engaged in picket duty. It went into winter quarters at Falmouth on Nov.
25, and was in reserve during most of the battle of Fredericksburg,
losing but 1 killed and 4 wounded. At the battle of Chancellorsville the
141st was heavily engaged, sustaining its chief loss in a desperate
charge on the morning of the third day of the battle, where it fought
with great courage and lost 235 killed, wounded and missing, out of 419
in action. Lieut.-Col. Watkins was severely wounded and was taken
prisoner. The regiment reached the field of Gettysburg on the evening of
July 1, after a most fatiguing march. On the next day it went into
position at the angle of Sickles' line, on the right of the Peach
Orchard, which was the most exposed part of the whole field. Its action
was most heroic throughout the day, during which it sustained fearful
losses. It went into action on that morning with 198 men, and lost
during the battle 136 in killed, wounded and missing, or nearly 70 per
cent, of its numbers. Its total loss during the two days was 149. In the
ensuing campaigns in Virginia it was engaged at Kelly's ford, Locust
Grove, and several minor actions. Winter quarters were established at
Brandy Station and while here many convalescents returned to the ranks.
Its strength was further augmented by the transfer of many men from the
105th, 99th and 110th Pa. regiments. It entered on the spring campaign
of 1864 as part of the 4th division, 2nd corps. In a single charge at
the Wilderness the 141st captured 50 prisoners and the colors of the
13th N. C. It was fiercely engaged at the Po river and a few days later
at the "bloody angle." In front of the regiment in the latter engagement
stood the great tree which was cut in two by bullets, and whose trunk is
now one of the treasured memorials of the war at Washington. Around this
tree the enemy's slain were strewn by hundreds. The losses of the
regiment up to this time amounted to 9 killed, 98 wounded and 21
missing. It was first to plant its colors on the enemy's works in a
gallant charge at the North Anna river. More severe fighting followed at
Cold Harbor and on the 14th it crossed the James. Lieut.-Col. Watkins
was killed while leading his men in the charge on the works of
Petersburg on June 18. Maj. Tyler now assumed command and was promoted
to lieutenant-colonel. On July 1, the regiment numbered only 170, and
had but 7 of its 39 original officers. During the balance of the year it
shared in all the fighting of its corps, being engaged at Deep Bottom,
Strawberry Plains, on the Weldon railroad in October and again in
December. It was stationed during the winter near Fort Hell, and on
March 27, 1865, began its final campaign, taking part in the final
assaults on Petersburg and maintaining its reputation for gallantry in
the bloody engagement of Sailor's creek. At the surrender of Lee it was
in line of battle, prepared to continue the bloody fighting if
necessary. On May 28, it was mustered out at Washington, with the
exception of the recruits, which were transferred to the 57th Pa. Few
regiments achieved a more honorable record for gallantry and efficient
service. The number on the regimental rolls was 1,036, and its losses
during service were 156 killed or died of wounds, 404 wounded, and 75
captured or missing. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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